Global Ganja Report

On May 5, the flagship New York City event in the Global Marijuana March movement returned to its traditional home of Washington Square Park after an absence of several years, with revelers gathering there at "high" noon—and then marching up to Union Square for a rally. Union Square has been since the start of spring a focal point for the Occupy Wall Street movement, so marijuana marchers and Occupy activists merged and mingled there. Among their common demands was an end to the NYPD's aggressive stop-and-frisk policy which has resulted in hundreds of illegal cannabis arrests. One slogan written on the pavement in multi-colored chalk read: "Occupy Justice, Stop Stop-and-Frisk." Speakers also demanded freedom for Dana Beal, the mastermind of the Global Marijuana March who is now serving time on a cannabis charge in Nebraska. (Global Ganja Report on the scene)

Four days earlier, Union Square was the principal gathering point for Occupy Wall Street's May Day mobilization.

Graphic by Global Marijuana March